In this seminar- based subject, students will discuss the latest global
media developments in the context of key theoretical frameworks. Central
topics include: the increasing disruption of established information flows;
challenges facing the fourth estate and democracy itself; the role of soft
power and popular culture; trust in journalism and traditional media;
the rise of social platforms as near-sovereign technocracies; gender and
diversity biases in media and emerging media tech; ethics and regulation;
the proliferation of fake news and
deep fakes; the potential erosion of privacy; the emergence of citizen
journalism; the phenomenon of cancel culture; the influence of hacktivism
and digital activism; inequality after #metoo and #blacklivesmatter; the
emerging architectures of the metaverse and VR/AR; advancements in Web 3.0
and blockchain; as well as the suite of emerging implications resulting
from generative AI, including the intensifying and sometimes intimate
relationships between humans and machines. The focus will be international,
with an emphasis on Australia. Ultimately, the course will examine the ways
in which global communication is undergoing a ceaseless paradigm shift.